Hexagon Study: People Welcome Robots in Warehouses and Factories, But Not in Hospitals or Schools

Hexagon's newly released global 'Robot Generation' research report reveals that adults and children alike hold broadly positive attitudes toward the introduction of robots in the workplace — but with clear conditions about where and how those robots should be used.

Physical Labour: Yes to Robots; Human-Centred Settings: No

When adult respondents were asked whether they preferred humans or robots to perform tasks in specific work environments, they consistently favoured robots for physical and repetitive roles, such as warehouse logistics and factory production line operations.

However, in settings that involve interpersonal interaction and emotional care — such as patient care in hospitals or teaching in schools — respondents expressed a strong preference for human workers in core roles, displaying notable wariness and resistance toward robot involvement.

Children Also Have Clear Views

Notably, the study also captured the perspectives of child respondents. The findings show that the next generation has equally clear judgements about appropriate use cases for robots. Rather than blanket acceptance or rejection, children demonstrated a 'context-specific' mindset closely mirroring that of adults.

A Social Consensus on Human-Robot Collaboration Is Taking Shape

Hexagon's research reflects a broader trend: as robotics and automation technologies accelerate their penetration across industries, the general public is not passively accepting these changes — instead, people are actively drawing boundaries around human-robot collaboration.

• Warehousing and Manufacturing: High public acceptance; robots are viewed as productivity-enhancing tools.
• Healthcare and Education: Low public acceptance; respondents emphasise the irreplaceable value of human warmth and genuine interaction.

This emerging social consensus carries significant implications for businesses developing automation strategies and for policymakers seeking to regulate robot deployment across sectors.

Source: Hexagon Global 'Robot Generation' Research Report

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